This week on At Home with Flowers- I’m “Behind the Bloom” – that’s my code phrase for behind the scenes… We filmed a NEW Christmas Special that will be released with Season 8- in April of 2026… that’s how public television works… we work a year ahead or even more sometimes. The Christmas Special is called “ A Dickens of a Christmas!” and it was inspired by our visit to the Charles Dickens Museum in London – we visited there- a few years ago- and it was truly an inspiration- for this Holiday Episode- where we will visit- Christmas Past, Present and Future- in our Flower Filled Way! Stay tuned for Episode #814 coming in 2026!
Kel and I thought it would be great to have a Table Top Christmas Tree on the kitchen counter… as decoration in this episode- and so we brought the Life in Bloom Office Christmas tree to our Kitchen Set… I also divulge in this video- that it’s NOT my kitchen we film in- but rather- our Wonderful Friend Kathy Golinski – she is Keith’s Mom- our Director of Photography- and she is always so kind to allow us to film there – during the year…
Actually – we filmed this Christmas Special in July, 2025- and thus we frosted the windows- so it looks like we’re having a “White Out” blizzard- outside… but it’s actually July- another bit of the Magic of Public Television Production!
Kel and I decided many years to Decorate the Office Christmas Tree with ornaments that could represent- topics or themes of the show- or use decoration that have been given to us by fans or guests on the show. So as I decorate today- I share some of those ornaments and the significance they play in our “Life in Bloom” World.
Christmas is a wonderful time to create Rituals- and one of my favorites is decorating for Christmas… It’s a very special time for Kel and I as we “talk story” about the Decoration… my Friends in Hawaii- shared the cultural ritual of “talking story”… it’s a time when you sit with friends or families and share the stories- that are important to you… it’s a wonderful cultural ritual- and it can be also described as visiting or chatting… and I’ve adopted the term “talk story” because it reminds me of the love and Aloha Spirit that was shared to me – and our crew when we visited Hawaii to film life in bloom.
I hope that you will enjoy – ‘talking story’ with me… as we decorate this little “Life in Bloom” tree- it certainly does not include all our special moments, memories or friends… but it’s a start… and that is my favorite part of the Holiday Season… taking time to think about our memories… and remember the significant parts of our lives… and reminisce about those that can’t be with us- or those that have departed or those that mean the very most to us…
Wishing each and every one of you… the Happiest Holiday Season- filled with Joy, Laughter, Tears and Wonderful Memories that you have enjoyed, endured and treasure!
May 2026- and the Year to come- be filled to the brim with Flowers, Peach and Joy… Sending you Much Love my Friends!